To call The Body Shop a mere skin and body care store is to miss half of what makes it special. Late founder Dame Anita Roddick was a pioneer for ethical business practices; upon opening her first store in Brighton, England, in 1976, she developed company values such as "Defend Human Rights" and "Protect The Planet." She somehow balanced principles and profit, partnering in global campaigns with UNICEF, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and the United Nations, all while ultimately expanding her brand into 2,500 locations in over 60 international markets. After her death in 2007, then-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, ?She campaigned for green issues for many years before it became fashionable to do so and inspired millions to the cause by bringing sustainable products to a mass market. . . . She was an inspiration.?
Indeed, the Body Shop exhibits an eco-friendliness and social consciousness that's hard to come by in a company of its size. Its products have been fair-trade since 1987, and its Against Animal Testing movement led to an EU-wide ban of animal testing of cosmetics. The products are made from ingredients harvested from around the world: shea butter from Ghana goes into body scrubs and butters, and Indian artisans craft wooden massagers and tote bags that are screenprinted by hand. But all that isn't to say the company's production practices overshadow its final products. Skincare treatments such as the brand?s iconic body butters, facial products, and gift collections often appear in Allure, Marie Claire, Lucky, Seventeen and other national publications.

The gurus at Colorific Hair Color Salon believe that in order to successfully transform looks, you need a plan. Before any strands shift hues, a director colorist meets with new clients to craft an attack strategy based on their hair type, facial features, and desire to camouflage themselves in a field of wheat. A dedicated technician then custom blends a mix of Schwarzkopf color products, deftly painting and using foils to create the desired look.
Although their products are high quality and their services are indulgent, Colorific’s crew keeps costs low. To do this, they let patrons blow-dry and finish their own look at a self-styling station. But for those seeking a full-service salon day, they also offer precision cuts, styling lessons, and makeup applications using the natural, preservative-free bareMinerals line by Bare Escentuals.

The stylists at Salon Evangelos skillfully cut and coif hair, but they specialize in custom color and color correction. This includes enhancing locks with demi-, semi-, and permanent hues as well as streaking hair with foil highlights to add dimension to 'dos or help big-game hunters camouflage themselves while on safari. Keratin Complex by Coppola treatments smooth frizzy strands for up to five months, and perms give body to flat follicles. Shop shelves stocked with OPI and China Glaze nail polishes and hair products from Paul Mitchell, Aveda, and Moroccanoil grant clients the means to pamper themselves at home.

Open for more than 22 years, Perry George Salon & Spa stakes its reputation on a team of stylists and aestheticians that wield international training experience and an eye for detail. Armed with Bioelements products, skin experts exact everything from facials to waxing treatments with conscientious aplomb. Stylists likewise tend to hair and nail technicians gussy up accusatory pointing fingers. The salon and spa also bundles its services into special-event packages, pairing mani-pedis with makeup for brides-to-be and Swedish massage with a businessman's facial for gents.